Sutera plant named ‘Dancop26’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  cultivar named ‘DANCOP26’ is disclosed, characterized by having large, clear pink flowers, a compact, trailing plant habit and continuous flowering. The new variety is a  Sutera,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Sutera cordata.

Variety denomination: ‘DANCOP26’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce plants ofSutera cordata with compact habits and large flowers. The seed parent isthe unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Suteracordata ‘cv.5-259.’ The pollen parent is unknown, as ‘Dancop26’ is aresult of a planned open pollination in which the pollen parent isimpossible to distinguish. The new variety was discovered in May 2006 bythe inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from that crossing, inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP26’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed at a commercial greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel in June 2006 and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANCOP26’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DANCOP26’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DANCOP26’ as a new and distinct Suteracultivar:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit.    -   2. Very large flowers.    -   3. Unique pink flower coloration.    -   4. Trailing plant habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP26’ are similar to plants of theparent, Sutera cordata ‘cv.5-259’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP26’ produce uniform, clearpink flowers, while plants of ‘cv 5-259’ produce blurred pink flowers ofvarious shades. Additionally, plants of ‘DANCOP26’ have a more trailinghabit than the female parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP26’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety ‘DANCOP19,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,116 in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar‘DANCOP26’ have larger flowers, of a lighter pink. The new variety alsohas a more trailing plant habit and larger leaves than ‘DanCOP19.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DANCOP26’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm basket.Age of the plant photographed is approximately 3 months from a rootedcutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of‘DANCOP26.’ The photographs were taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DANCOP26’ plants grown in a greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 18°C. to 24° C. The greenhouse is subject to partial shade. General lightconditions are bright, normal sunlight, with some shade during thebrightest part of the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Sutera cordata cultivar ‘DANCOP26.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to Initiate Roots: About 7 to 10 days at approximately 18° C.-   Root Description: Fine, densely fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth Habit: Mounding annual.-   Pot size of plant described: 13 cm.-   Age of Plant Described: Approximately 90 days from a rooted cutting.-   Height:    -   -   To top of flowers.—Approximately 8 cm.-   Plant Spread: Approximately 55 cm.-   Growth Rate: Moderate.-   Branching Characteristics: Very well-branched.-   Length of Primary Lateral Branches: Approximately 50 cm.-   Diameter of Lateral Branches: Approximately 0.2 cm-   Quantity of Primary Lateral Branches: About 8.-   Characteristics of Primary Lateral Branches:    -   -   Form.—Cylindrical.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A.        -   Texture.—Velvety.        -   Strength.—Strong.-   Internode length: Approximately 2 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 100 per branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 2 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acuminate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Velvety.        -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Aspect.—Slanted downward.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage under            side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 147B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 147B. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 147A.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 0.7 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 137C. Texture:            Velvety.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Freely flowering under outdoors growing    conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring    through autumn. Year round in greenhouse environment, or under warm    conditions and high sunlight. Flowering begins approximately 4 weeks    after planting a rooted cutting.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Individual flowers are    typical scrophulariaceae shape, 2-lipped, 5-petaled solitary    flowers, fused at base, occurring in the leaf axis, on a terminal    raceme.-   Rate of flower opening: 3 days from bud to fully opened flower.-   Flower Longevity on Plant: Individual flowers last 7 days on the    plant.-   Quantity of flowers: About 200 open blooms per plant.-   Flower Form: Salverform.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Corolla tube diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.-   Corolla/Petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—5 rounded and gameopetalous petals.        -   Lobe length.—About 0.7 cm.        -   Lobe width.—About 0.6 cm.        -   Quantity.—5.        -   Texture.—Velvety.        -   Lobe apex.—Rounded.        -   Lobe shape.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Slanted upward.-   Color:    -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Purple N78C. Lower            surface: Near RHS Purple 76A.        -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Purple N78D. Lower            surface: Near RHS Purple 76A.        -   Corolla tube color.—Near RHS yellow-Green 154C.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Slightly flattened sphere.        -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Purple N78C.-   Calyx/Sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5, fused at base.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.1 cm        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Velvety.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Lower            Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.-   Peduncle: None.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.        -   Orientation.—Slanted upward at an angle of about 45°.        -   Pubescence.—Slight.-   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—4.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 13A.        -   Pollen.—Color. Near RHS Yellow 13B. Quantity: Moderate.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Color: Near RHS            Green-Yellow 1B.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Color: Near RHS Green 153A. Ovary            Color: Near RHS Green 143C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed and not commercially important.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Sutera have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between 5 to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP26’ hereinillustrated and described.